Flow metering unit



0ct. 22, 1957 T. R. THOMAS FLOW UETERINGUNIT Filed July 5f 1951 ZWY www. W gw, finaal w www.

' INVENToR Thomas@ Thomas 82911. .am @Wim .a w

United Srtes Patent@ 2,810,541 fELoW METERING Thomas -R. ThomaspNew York, N. yassignorrto Auto Research Corporationyacorporationof Delaware Application July 3, 1951,Se1"ialNO.'235';'023

1 Claim. (Cl. 251-1418) The present invention relates to a meter .unit and .it .particularly relates ,to a meter unit .to be utilized in .con- .nection withthe centralized lubricant liow metering distributing system.

.It is among the objects of .the Ipresent invention to provide a ow metering unitfor albricant distributing system which will vgive accurate, Areliz'tbleand `predetermined flow metering eect regardless of therlen'gthof the .dis- `tributing line between the metering .unit'and'the 'central pressure source and `regardless of thev'ary'ing restrictions in the bearings to be lubricated.

Itis among the objects ofthe' present invention to Iprovide a reliable, simple, durable, maximum'productioniiow .metering unit which may ibe readily manufactured by Vautomatic machinery to a high degree of accuracy, Yand which may be readily adjusted during or after manufac- "ture to give accurate predetermined ow metering or 4iiow distribution etect.

Another object ofthe present invention is'to provide "a Vhow metering unit for use ina high restriction type lubricant distributing system which will assure accurate pro- Vportionment of relatively minute quantities'oflubricant famonga plurality of bearings at different -heights 'andat different distances from a central pressure source, with assurance that Van 'accurate proportionment of lubricant willfbe attained over'long periods of time'without likeli- Vhood of'clogging and regardless of Avarious `temperatures "and -viscosities of the lubricant.

' In centralizedfdistributing -systems 'forlubricant of the Y'high restrictiontype, such `as may be-used onautomobile chassis, textile machinery, machine ltools such as-lathes -and milling machines, baking machinery, business ma- Lcliin'ery, sewing machines, cloth cutters, printing presses, power presses and the like, itis desirable to-provide acentrallubricant source such -as a reservoir, ora 'lubricant containing pocket in a machine, which will beprovided `rwith a gear` pump, or reciprocating pump operatedlmanlually at intervals, or automatically 'from the machine to rsupply predetermined quantities of lubricant tothe various Vspace bearingsvof the machine during operation.

'l`hesemachines `in general require :relatively minute .quantities-of lubricant iper unit operation time /but-it-is :important thatthey be not supplied withexce'ssfquantities -fof lubricant which-woulddrip orilow overon-theoutsi'de ofthe-,machine and serveto collect dust,dirtbresand1the like, and .not only lessen the life ofthe machine'but 'in fadditi'oncreate'an' unsightlyappearance and require excesvsive cleaning effort.

A Vcentralized high pressure lubricating installation should `he yofsuch la type VYas tto supply relatively minute Ayetaccurately .proportionedzquantities of lubricantlto the various `spaced bearings of the mechanism in accordance with their needs, and with assurance that this supply will be maintainedindenitely lwithout excess testing, check ing or maintenance service.

lIt isparticlarly vimportant that the flow metering iitltin'gs, Y=which regulatethe -iiow of lubricant to -the bearlings and `which are-positioned-adjacent to oriatthei`out 'lets, bereliable rin operation over long periods-of time \withouttendency-toward clogging -since in many-instances they -arenot in accessible rposition or are embodied-inlternally-in the machinery and cannotbe readily-inspected `for 1 removed 'formaintenance purposes.

`ft is also important -that -these -fttings proportion 'the-`v ICC relatively minute "quantities 'fliibic'ant'supply among the bearings andbe susceptibleto 'ready adjustment 'andcalibration'duringthe :manufacturing operation, which cali fbrationand :adjustment will be' maintained with lassurance after installation and throughout the operation rof the ma 'chineflthoughtheperiod oftenbemany years,`

It is therefore among the'furtherlobjectsof ithepresent invention to; provide isuch :aflow metering unit *in* the form A'dt' -a icomp'act, readily manufactured unit, 'susceptible to mit flimit'ation, since "fvarious .changestherein 'may -fbe made by those skilled in the art without departing from the .scope yandy-:spirit of the lpresent invention. I

iIn'iaccomplishing :the -above'fobjects itlhas Y:been IIfouiid mostfsuitable, accordingito one embodimentof the present invention, to `fprovi'de vla 'rilow Lmetering fitting ypreferably -rnadezoutof tubular,square, :hexagonal ory even octagonal :brass rbarslstock-which .may be :externally'provided with :various :types fof maehine vor pipe :threads to enable rat- Yftachmentftoibear'inhgszor compression coupling connections.

Although thep'resent invention;isparticularly directed to fa I threaded end tvpeiiow @metering iitting, i it lis i also adapted to various types of press-in or plug-intypes'of ilow :metering fittings fwith relatively smooth outside faces to fen-able :lubricant :tightconnection into recesses 1' into in- ;junctionelements yor bearingor machine recesses.

A particularly important yfeature of ythe..presentfinv.en .tion residesinithefact that-the central portion oftheiitting isprovided witha central passage .havinginlett-and outlet sockets.

1,Phe,central;passagereceives a small diam-eter tubeof varyingjlength, say from 0.2 to .0;4, and of varying internal diameters,orflowpassages.ranging from .002,to .02.

This tube'is desirablyV imbeddedinasoft lead or plastic .or even synthetic rubber washer which is forced intothe interior Aof the fitting in such a manner ,as .to,compe1 Vall flow to takeplacethroughsuch smalldiameter' tubing.

Desirably/before the small diameter tubing andinthe inlet recessof 4the'tting there Lisfpositioried Fa socket receiving a,strainer,while :on the `outlet side of .the fitting in :a socket'ispositioned .a spring -sealed flat check valve with a "plastic lfacing of vinyl, Ysilicone .or fluor-.ethylene .res1ns.

With the foregoing and .other .objects in view, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and. arrangement of ,parts -asghereina'fter more ,specifically described, and illustrated .in Vthe accompanying drawings, whereinis Shown an embodiment of the inventionfbutit .is to be .understoodthat changes, variations .andfmodications can ,be resorted fto'wh'ich fall withinthe Vscope of theclaimfhereunto appended.

:,In :the drawings wherein like reference characters 1de- `note .corresponding ,partsthroughout theseveral views:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of onetype 4of Fig. 5 is a transverse horizontal sectional view upon the line 5 5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view upon an enlarged scale of a tubular restriction inlet similar t0 Fig. 4, but showing a different embodiment. c A

Referring to Fig. 1 there is shown a tting body A, a

` bearing structure B, and the end C of a small distributing tubing system.

The tubing C is connected nearly or remotely to a central pressure pump or source. i

The tubing is desirably thin wall tubing and its end 10 abuts a shoulder 11 in the nipple 12. The nipple 12 Vfits in theouter end of the socket 13 inside of the mable 12.

The inside edge of the thimble 12 holds the strainer 23 in position. The strainer has a metal mesh backing cup 24 which rests in the bottom of the inlet socket as indicated at 25. The tubing D is tightly wedged in the holder member 26 which may be of soft metal or rubber or an oil resistant plastic. If desired, the metal 26 may actually be poured in molten condition into the recess 27. Normally, however, the metal 26 may be formed tightly around the tube D before being forced into the recess 27 without deforming or changing the internal diameter of the tubing D.

The tube D extends a substantial distance below the plug 26 into a central bore 28 in the fitting A. The lower end 29 of the tube should terminate just inside of the countersink 30 above the annular valve ridge 31.

The valve has a plastic face 32 of vinyl resin, silicone resin or even a fluor-ethylene resin. It is also provided with a metal backing plate33, a coil spring 34 and a spring retainer 35, all held within the outlet socket 36.

The outlet end of the tting A is provided with a pipe threading 37 which screws into the pipe threaded socket 38 in the bearing structure B.

The restricting etect of the fitting of Fig. 1 will solely depend upon the length and diameter of the bore of the tube D and the strainer and valve will assist in the distribution etiect by preventing entry ot dirt particles and by preventing entry of air at higher bearings.

The ilow metering fitting unit, as shown in Fig. 1, will be particularly adaptable to functioning over long periods of time without deranging or service, and without the necessity of inspection or replacement even though the machine be operated out of doors or subjected to substantial vibration while operating.

In the unit of Fig. 2, similarly functioning parts are indicated by the same letters and numerals primed as in rig. 1.

In the unit of Fig. 2 the tube D' has a close tting Washer 26' which may be of an expansive metal of low melting point such is known as cerromatrix. This cerromatrix has a backing plate 45 which will prevent flowing vof the molten expansive metal into the tube clearance hold 28.

In the ow metering unit of Fig. 3, similarly functioning parts are indicated by the saine numerals and letters Aas in Figs. 1 and 2 except provided with a superior 2.

In Fig. 3 there is provided a synthetic rubber plug 262 resistant to oil which is held in place by an annular metal 4 found that a convenient rating system may be made up as follows:

.0051 internal diameter X .00275 wall thickness .0062 internal diameter X .00275 wall thickness .0073 internal diameter x .00275 wall thickness .0087 internal'diameter x .004 wall thickness .011 internal diameter X .005 wall thickness .0131 internal diameter x .006 wall thickness .0157 internal diameter X .006 wall thickness Referring to Figs. 5 and 6, the tubular restriction 200 is shown VXed inthe central recess 201 of the fitting 202 by the plug 203. The passageway 204 is not only protected by the strainer 205 with the backing cup 206 but also by the cap 207. The cap 207 has a base 208 and a side flange 209.

When placed upon the top of tube 200 the downward projections 210 will contact the top of the tube 211.

This will leave the crevices 212 and 213 for passage of oil into the passageway 204.

This cap 207 will protect the entrance of the tube 200 from felt hairs and from small initial particles.

The cap 207 will give an edge'crevice effect giving edge lter protection.

In the alternative construction of Fig. 6 the tube 220 has a ared upper end 221. Y The'ca'p 222 has the base 223 and the skirt 224.

The skirt 224 has 3 or 4 places as indicated at 225 which are crimped under the nare 22.1 to prevent loss or dislocation of the cap 222.

Normally the crevices 212 and 213 will be of the order 4of 0.002 to 0.005 inch.

In Figs. 4 and 5 the indentations 214 enable the cap 207 to be press fitted or push fitted over the top of the tube 200 with assurance that there will be close contact at the position of the three or four indentations 214.

As many changes could be made in the above lubrication, and many widely different embodiments of this invention could be made Without departing from the scope of the claim,'it is intended that all matter contained in the above description shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. Y

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, what is claimed is:

A high restriction liquid metering unit to control the flow of lubricant from the outlet of a branched distributing lubrication installation having tubing leading to a bearing, an elongated body having a central hexagonal cross section and exteriorly threaded inlet and outlet ends and a through passage extending longitudinally through the full length and along the axis thereof having a central socket recess and inlet and outlet end socket recesses, the inlet socket recess being provided with a strainer and the outlet socket recess being provided with va check valve, a small diameter capillary tube extending longitudinally in said through passage along the axis thereof and a soft metal plug encircling the intermediate portion of the tube and jammed against the side walls and bottom of the central recess so lthat all flow must pass through said tube and said tube having a cap over the inlet end thereof with passages to permit flow of lubricant under the cap into the tube.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 706,781 Reynolds Aug. 12, 1902 1,404,724 Allen Ian. 31, 1922 1,490,291 Ross Apr. 15, 1924 1,526,655 Allen Feb. 17, 1925 1,632,771 Bijur June 14, 1927 1,714,373 Johnson May 21, 1929 1,948,503 Bijur Feb. 27, 1934 V,2,367,150 Ulm s lan. 9, 1945 

